‘Blimey George, you’ve excelled yourself this year. I thought, you know, you’d maybe give it a miss?’ Tina glanced sidelong at her brother, wondering at his mood.

George rubbed his eyes, tiredness showing through. He managed a smile. ‘Couldn’t miss Guy Fawkes night, could I sis? Haven’t done so yet, have I?’

Tina stood and touched his hand, noticing the slight shaking. ‘Remember the Guy you made when Dad had that rant about Blair? ‘We don’t burn effigies in England, boy’.’ Tina mimicked their late father perfectly.

George nodded. ‘I was never sure if he was serious.’

‘Mum told him not to be so stupid, remember. ‘What do you think a model of Guy Fawkes is if it’s not an effigy’. Right, shall we get him onto the bonfire. Goodness, he’s a weight.’

‘I’ve filled him with firecrackers and some other fun stuff. Helped bulk him out. Maybe Ron and my hunky nephew can help?’

As the three men eased the figurine onto the stack of wood, Tina said to George, ‘So things better? You and Maggie ok?’

George pursed his lips. ‘I think we both realised we’d come to the end, you know. Time to move on.’

Tina smiled and hugged her brother. ‘You’re well shot of her. You know what I think. At least she’s not going to be moping about here, casting a downer on everything.’

George smiled as he took out his lighter. ‘Oh I think for once she’ll light up the whole occasion.’ As he sparked a flame and reached forward he looked around at his family’s happy faces. ‘Ok?’

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About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published three books - Dead Flies and Sherry Trifle, My Father and Other Liars and Salisbury Square. In addition I published an anthology of short stories, Life, in a Grain of Sand this summer. A fourth book will be out soon. This started life as a novel in a week on this blog and will follow later this year.
I blog about all sorts at geofflepard.com and welcome all comments. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.